New Milkshake bar in Norwich
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Category Archives: Food and Drink
It’s our first Saturday in the city and we are super excited!! We’ve got our camera at the ready, FREE wristbands which will get you 10% off for life….and of course a Shed load of Shakes!! Come on down and join us!! Norfolk Smallholders Show
Up coming event for all those interested in food and local producers, just found out about this event today, so only limited details of the event currently, will keep you updated as more info becomes available.
Norfolk Smallholders Show on Sun 1st Aug, 10am-4pm, at Sheringham Park, Norfolk.
Entry is £5 for adults, free for children and parking is free. Dogs are welcome!
TV’s MasterChef finalist cooking up a gourmet night in Norwich
Tim Kinnaird a former Norfolk children’s actor, who narrowly missed winning this years television 2010 MasterChef after reaching the final, will be working alongside Nigel Raffles of St Benedicts Restaurant in Norwich.
Nigel and Tim will host three gourmet evenings providing a unique experience for special customers.
Tim’s passion for desserts and quality food certainly wowed the judges.
Tim said “Following my appearance on MasterChef I’ve been working hard to build a career in food. St Benedicts restaurant is somewhere I’ve always enjoyed as a customer. To work in the kitchen with Nigel is a great opportunity and something I’m very excited about.”
“My whole experience of being on the program hes been phenomenal, having seen what other competitors cooked to get through to the final six, it was a tremendous feeling. The quality of cooking in the room on that day was amazing- quiet inspiring as well.”
Nigel and Jayne Raffles have been restauranteurs in Norwich for over twenty years and now run four restaurants each providing a different dining style. Nigel has been cooking for over twenty five years in establishments such as Le Gavroche with Albert Roux, the Intercontinental on Park Lane and Hintlesham Hall, learning his craft so he can give you a quality dining experience. He is delighted to have a chance to work with Tim. These evenings will give you a chance to talk and ask questions about the menu or just ask Tim about his experiences from MasterChef.
Tickets are limited to 50 places for each evening and cost just £40.00 per person to include a welcome drink, canapes and a three course dinner.
Dates confirmed are July 7th, July 13th and 7th September 2010.
The evenings start at 7pm.
Please call the restaurant on 01603 765377 to book your table now. Bookings will be taken on a strictly first come first served basis and we expect the 50 places on each night to be snapped up within a few short days of the advertisement going to press.
The Best Of Norfolk – A new restaurant from a Michelin Star Chef
All we seem to hear currently is the the Pub trade is in free fall, local pubs are closing at an alarming rate. As a rural county the recession has hit hard at the rural pubs of Norfolk. However there is a new recipe for success, take one super successful local chef add a business partner and a good idea and you get Avian Inns.
Daniel Smith is the Chef his impressive CV includes working for the Roux Brothers and Galton Blackiston at Morston Hall. Where the Michelin Star was gained in Daniels time as head Chef.
Daniel is from Norfolk ” I’m a local person who lives just 15 miles down the road so I felt it was a good location. And it is tied to Woodforde’s Brewery, which is a local Norfolk brewery, so we will have five local real ales on tap. I like the aesthetic of the pub and the feel. It has been trading as a foody pub, although different food to the sort that I’ll be offering”
A converted two storey stable house has five en suite cottage style rooms for which to stay. The ground floor has one family and two double rooms; the first floor has one four poster double room and one twin room. Each room has internet access, TV, tea making facilities, hair-dryer and fully equipped en suite bathrooms.
Renowned local chef Daniel Smith is Chef Patron at The Ingham Swan. The Ingham Swan will be serving Modern British cuisine dedicated to seasonality. Daniel is keen to uphold his Norfolk roots, so using the finest produce from independent local suppliers where possible is the key to producing dishes such as Cromer Crab and Feta Salad with Avocado Puree, Crispy Crab Cake and Pink Grapefruit Salad or Dijon and East Anglian Lamb Rump with Fondant Potato, Braised Baby Leeks, Roast Celeriac, Basil Pan Jus.
The Ingham Swan is full of character and steep in history – it was built in the 14th Century and originally part of Ingham Priory until its’ destruction under Henry VIII in the 16th Century. The Ingham Swan has been sympathetically refurbished to ensure the décor naturally compliments the heritage of the building, with a careful mix of contemporary touches bringing in a modern twist but blended with the rustic ambience of the original features.
Rooms range from £70 to £105 per night including breakfast 
For room enquiries please call 01692 581099.
The Ingham Swan, Sea Palling Road, Ingham, NR12 9AB.
Tea by the beach! FREE EVENT
Little Acorn Network Event Tuesday 1st June: In celebration of the summer half term we will be hosting a free event at the fantasticFunky Mackerel Cafe on the promenade in Sheringham. A great chance to get out and see the sea (and maybe sand!), have a cuppa and meet some new people!
Children and dogs welcome.
Date: Tuesday 1st June
Time: 6pm – 8pm (please note the earlier starting time)
Cost: This is a FREE EVENT, teas and other refreshments will be available to purchase from the cafe.
How to book
Location: The Funky Mackerel Cafe, East Promenade, Sheringham, Norfolk (click here for map)
Book now: The best way to book is by email:bookings@little-acorn.net or leave a message 07818 436326
Norfolk Burgers – All the way from Route 66!
Had a fantastic great value Burger dinner last night in central Norwich. Route 66 is a newish restaurant nestled on London street right by Bank Plain in the heart of the city.
What made it so special? simple fantastic local produce and amazing value for money.
You’ll find Route66 at 66 London Street, they are a top floor restaurant about the Toni & Guy Studio. Venture up the stairs from street level and you are met by your hostess Marie.
We quickly had a table with a good view over the historic London street.
The menu is no frills and really does not give a hint of what is to come. Marie quickly delivered our bottles of beer and we opted for a Chicken & Bacon Burger with fries plus just to check their quality we ordered a vegetarian option of the Mozzarella and Tomato Burger again with fries.
We had our orders within ten minuets and quickly worked out why the other diners in the restaurant looked so happy.
Each Burger was presented in a fresh and what appeared to be cooked fresh buns, with it’s own personal mountain of fries. The Chicken & Bacon Burger was massive! the chicken breast (if it was that- personally I think it must have been a Condor or something larger!) was cooked to perfection and the juicy Bacon Rashers set the flavours of a treat.
The Mozzarella & Tomato Burger was smaller and slightly more manageable but no less tasty. Again this was a freshly made burger and you could tell the difference from the more generic food served in other theme and chained restaurants.
We were presented a range of quality sauces on the table to accompany the meal.
The best part of the meal however was the two for one offer which meant including our beer the whole meal came to a total of £14.55!!
This quirky independent locally run restaurant is definately worth making an effort for especially to take advantage of the great value and great food.
Route66 provides Lunch and a takeaway option. You know it is good when you leave a restaurant, head to the nearby Wildman Pub and the landlady Abby is about to tuck into an order from the same restaurant!
Route66
66 London Street
Norwich
Tel 01603 624620 (Marie)
Open 11.30am to late
Go Crustacean Crazy at the Cliftonville Hotel
Think Cromer and you’re probably thinking of eating or catching a majestic Cromer Crab. The association’s never been more apt than this Spring, as the town prepares for the inaugural Crab and Lobster Festival which runs from 21st and 23rd May, a seasonal celebration that’s sponsored by the Cliftonville Hotel – a beachside destination notorious for its seafood culinary excellence.
This quintessential English seaside hotel, with popular features, including the breathtaking ‘Gone with the Wind staircase,’ has earned an enviable reputation for serving tantalising seafood dishes in its Bolton’s Bistro and its Westcliffe a la Carte Restaurant. Passionate about local produce and quality dining, specialties on the menu include the Cromer Crab and locally caught lobster – two dishes which link this popular eatery to the forthcoming festival.
So what better place to use as a base to explore? With 82 6ft and 3ft crab and lobsters dotted around beautiful coastal towns Sheringham and Cromer, and each vibrant crustacean vividly decorated by a different community group or organisation, there’s so much to see.
Visitors need only pick up a trail map and take part in the unique ‘Crustacea Crawl’ – north Norfolk’s answer to Go Elephants! or Liverpool’s famous Lamb Banana. All money raised from this shellfish-inspired festival will go to local RNLI stations and Help for Heroes, making this a worthwhile, educational and simply delicious event for the region!
Need inspiration for how to cook and prepare these local delicacies? Acclaimed chefs from the Cliftonville Hotel will also be sharing their tips and recipe ideas at cookery demonstrations from the mobile kitchen – another reason why a stay at the hotel ties in perfectly with a visit to this sensational seaside celebration.
Belinda Cammell, Cliftonville’s managing director comments: “This is a special festival for north Norfolk, one which we anticipate will attract residents and visitors, keen fishermen, families and foodies. With the whole town going crustacean crazy, it was natural that we support the event, particularly on account of our famous seafood menu. For those wanting to sample great British seafood at its very best, there really is no better place to come!”
The Cliftonville Hotel is established as one of Norfolk’s leading family-run hotels. Built in 1897, it is situated on Cromer’s seafront, a mere 500 yards from the beach and famous Cromer Pier, providing guests with the highest standard of comfort and service.
To find out more about The Cliftonville Hotel, contact them on 01263 512543, or go to www. cliftonvillehotel.co.uk.
Find yourself north of the Broads and south of the coast
In between the twin Jewels of the Norfolk Broads and the wonderful North Norfolk Coast you can find fantastic places to stay, Val and Andy Kerr have one such B&B ideally positioned to allow for easy exploration of both.
Church Farm Barn & Arthurs Cottage are located in the Village of Edingthorpe the Luxury award winning B&B can be seen below
The village of Edingthorpe is perfectly placed between the North Norfolk coast with the attractive seaside towns of Cromer and Sherringham, the cathedral city of Norwich with its many restaurants, shops, theatres and museums, and the Norfolk Broads with its seemingly-endless, beautiful waterways, wildlife and walks. Just 2 miles from the nearest beach, there are also secluded, sand-duned expanses shortly to the south where the local seal population come to have their cubs.
The local market town of North Walsham is only 3 miles from Church Farm Barn and the pretty village of Aylsham is some 11 miles west. Near Aylsham, you will find the stunning Jacobean National Trust property of Blickling Hall while Felbrigg Hall is on the way to Cromer.
We take pride in using as much local produce and ingredients from around Norfolk as possible, here are a few of our suppliers:
Fresh free-range eggs come from Green Farm at Edingthorpe Green and local jams are made by Edwina at Honey Top Farm also in the village.
The local farm shop at Groveland, Roughton, has an excellent butcher with venison always available for Game Pie. And the butcher, G.F.White of Aylsham, provides their own dry-cured bacon and breakfast sausages for the Church Farm Barn table.
Letheringsett Mill provides the flour, muesli and oats for the Barn’s freshly-made bread and breakfast choices of muesli and porridge. It sits next to a superb restaurant, the King’s Head again in Letheringsett near the town of Holt.
Brisley Bell a great place to stay and eat
The Brisley Bell Inn is a traditional Norfolk Bed and Breakfast establishment that boasts its very own restaurant, which is renowned for its local produce and fresh game.
You will find us in the idyllic and tranquil setting of Brisley Common adjacent to the village of Brisley on the B1145, between Fakenham & Dereham. The Brisley Bell is a perfect country retreat set in the heart of Norfolk. Close to a large number of local attractions, The Brisley Bell Inn Bed and Breakfast is ideally situated whether you are visiting Norfolk on business or for a weekend break. The Brisley Inn is popular with walkers, and is ideal for those with interests in shooting, golf, fishing, cycling, or those just wishing to relax and explore the treasures of our beautiful Norfolk countryside and coast.
Fine Seafood In North Norfolk
An introduction to fine new friends of Easy Route the North Norfolk Seafood Restaurant and Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
“The Old Forge”
Recommended as ‘a must’ by food critics in East Anglia
Recently awarded three AA rosettes for culinary excellence – November 2007, 2008 and 2009
Colin and Sarah were featured twice on BBC1 National Television News demonstrating seafood dishes.
The Old Forge is a 14th Century former coaching station with forge and is steeped in history. It was a resting place for pilgrims journeying to nearby Walsingham Abbey and has a figurine placed on the wall which is a sign that the building has been blessed spiritually. It is mentioned in Chaucer’s “A Pilgrim’s Progress”.
The Old Forge has been completely refurbished and taken back to its original style of York Stone floors and bar, beams and a warm welcoming atmosphere. The original iron hooks are still in the restaurant where the horses were tied ready to be shod.
Colin and Sarah, his wife, are both experienced in the field of first class accommodation and cuisine. Colin, the chef proprietor, trained in France and has worked in Inn on the Park and Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
Fresh seafood is the speciality and Colin has invented many of his own dishes which are immensely popular with local regulars who dine at the restaurant. Simple touches such as using the exquisite shrimps from The Wash topped on succulent pieces of fish make such a difference to food. Local crayfish tails cooked with different spices, many of which are grown in the garden and lobster cooked in its own juices are a must. Lobster, crabs and oysters are purchased daily from the infamous fishermen on the coast at Blakeney and Wells next the Sea and prepared with many of Colin’s secret recipes.
Local sirloin steak is also on the menu but the emphasis is on seafood. If you don’t feel fishy we would be delighted to discuss another menu in advance of your booking. We do not like to exclude anyone including children.
There is a special pre-theatre menu on offer for the Thursford Christmas Spectacular and special B&B Rates.
E mail us at enquiries@seafood.northnorfolk.co.uk